MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2019 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Bain, Anthony, Beckett, Carpenter, Chism, Holland, Huddleston, Mangold, Miles, Oliver, Rogers (14th), Haney
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING DR. JIM FUTRAL, UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE MISSISSIPPI BAPTIST CONVENTION BOARD AFTER 21 YEARS OF DEVOTED SERVICE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER.
WHEREAS, Dr. Jim Futral, the Executive Director-Treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board will retire on October 31, 2019, after 21 years of devoted service; and
WHEREAS, he was serving as a pastor with Broadmoor Baptist Church when, in the summer of 1998, he was invited to the position as Executive Director-Treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board; and
WHEREAS, upon acceptance of the invitation, he was welcomed by the board with a unanimous vote of confidence, and began a new journey on September 1, 1998, when he began this tremendous task that would stretch a span of 21 years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Futral has sought to be a blessing to the many congregations that he has met during his time in this esteemed position, and has enjoyed meeting the needs of numerous churches and the many servants of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board; and
WHEREAS, his heart for God was ignited early in life as he became saved at the tender age of nine, was called to preach at the age of 18, became licensed to preach in 1963 and ordained in 1964; and
WHEREAS, hungry to preach the word of God to multitudes, soon after his ordination, he began pastoring in 1964 and continued to pastor at various churches as a "well sought out" pastor until 1998, when he was called to minister in a different capacity as the Executive Director-Treasurer; and
WHEREAS, as a minister of the Gospel, he pastored Whittentown Baptist Church, Ripley, Mississippi (1964-1965), Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, New Albany, Mississippi (1965-1967), First Baptist Church, Verona, Mississippi (1967-1971), First Baptist Church, Briar, Texas (1971-1972), Antioch Baptist Church, Columbus, Mississippi (1972-1974), Grace Memorial Baptist Church, Gulfport, Mississippi (1974-1978), First Baptist Church, Amory, Mississippi (1978-1981), North Fort Worth Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas (1981-1985), Broadmoor Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi (1985-1998); and
WHEREAS, he has also been celebrated by his peers while serving as pastor and Executive Director-Treasurer as evidenced by his awards of Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Blue Mountain College (1989), Order of the Golden Arrow Award, Mississippi College (1989), Distinguished Alumni Award, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (1990), Honorary Doctor of Divinity from William Carey University (2009) and Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Mississippi College (2014); and
WHEREAS, upon announcing his retirement, Dr. Futral quoted Galatians 4:4 stating, "Paul tells us that in the "fullness of time" or when the time was just right, Jesus came. For me, the fullness of time has come...to go. All beginnings have an end and all endings have a beginning..."; and
WHEREAS, throughout his many endeavors to serve, he has been supported by his loving wife, Shirley Fay and their three children, Melodi, Rob and Mysti, eight grandchildren: Madi, Trea, Ridge, Rivers, Banks, Coleman, Mary Lamar and Clay; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to honor the service of men of God such as Dr. Jim Futral, who answered God's calling upon their lives and spent their lives fervently preaching the word and doing the good works of Jesus:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Dr. Jim Futral, upon his retirement from the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board after 21 years of devoted service as Executive Director-Treasurer.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Jim Futral and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.